Older people 'more prone to driving error'

The older an individual, the more likely they are to make critical errors while driving, research has shown, which could lead to accidents leaving them in need of home care.

Participants in the study, published in journal Neuropsychology, were independently-living older people who drove frequently and showed no signs of dementia.

It was found that people in the 85-89 year old age group made four times the errors of those in the 70-74 category.

Lead researcher Kaarin J Anstey explained that all types of driving errors increased with age, and this was not limited to drivers with a history of bad motoring.

"It is important to note that there is a large variation in cognitive ability, so some people still have a high level of functioning in later life even if they have suffered some cognitive declines related to normal ageing," she added.

This follows research from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, which advised that doctors carry out simple tests to determine whether stroke survivors are ready to drive again.

Find the nearest Barchester nursing home